education

WINTER is a great season to learn and practice animal tracking!

Have you ever been in the woods and wonder “who’s been here?” Join us for the art and science of tracking. Learn how to read signs and tell the stories of the landscape and learn terminology so you can have a common language for wildlife conservation efforts. In our tracking classes, throughout the year, beginner and expert trackers come together and are immersed in ancient and modern teachings. Explore your understanding of the natural world through the eyes of a tracker. Bring your field guides, journal and sense of wonder.

WINTER IS A GREAT TIME TO BE OUTSIDE!

HERON HOMESCHOOL
Heron is our signature program, taking place on Larch Hill Conservation Area in Amherst for more than 15 years. Hundreds of students have taken the challenge of the Heron, and have developed their nature awareness and wilderness living skills.

Curriculum covered is seasonal according to the natural laws and cycles of nature. For the development of wilderness living skills, it is necessary that we follow the rhythms of the Earth by harvesting materials and creating our earthen wares in the proper season.

WHO: Ages 7 and up
WHERE: Amherst, Massachusetts
WHEN: Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Fall, Winter and Spring sessions
HOW MUCH: $440-$560/8-week WINTER session; 50% is due upon registration; balance due within 2 weeks after start of Program (payment plan is available)

SWIFT EAGLE HOMESCHOOL
In the Heron Program, we began a foundation of learning nature awareness and wilderness living skills. The Swift Eagle Program introduces many new skills and adventures while building on the foundations of the Heron Program.

FALL SESSION: 12 weeks (FRIDAYS–mid September through early December, skip Friday after Thanksgiving)

HERON HOMESCHOOL
Heron is our signature program, taking place on Larch Hill Conservation Area in Amherst for more than 15 years. Hundreds of students have taken the challenge of the Heron, and have developed their nature awareness and wilderness living skills.

Curriculum covered is seasonal according to the natural laws and cycles of nature. For the development of wilderness living skills, it is necessary that we follow the rhythms of the Earth by harvesting materials and creating our earthen wares in the proper season.

WHO: Ages 7 and up
WHERE: Amherst, Massachusetts
WHEN: Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Fall, Winter and Spring sessions
HOW MUCH: $670-$850/12-week FALL session (INCLUDES JOURNAL/HANDBOOK); 50% is due upon registration; balance due within 2 weeks after start of Program (payment plan is available)

SWIFT EAGLE HOMESCHOOL
In the Heron Program, we began a foundation of learning nature awareness and wilderness living skills. The Swift Eagle Program introduces many new skills and adventures while building on the foundations of the Heron Program.

My son participates in a weekly afterschool program and summer camps with Earthworks. Anything Earthworks is his favorite thing to do. Earthworks provides a perfect balance of learning, fun, and self-discovery that leaves my son feeling happier, smarter, and more fulfilled. When he is out in the woods with the Earthworks staff, he gets to experience the best of himself, and that leads to a sense of serenity and self-confidence that carries over into his life at home and at school. We feel lucky to have such an amazing program in our community.WolfQuest-Amherst Parent

Saturday, February 25, 9 am-12 pm

Workshop 1 of WINTER OUTDOOR SKILLS ADVENTURE WEEKEND

Winter Shelter Building

The art of staying safe & warm in the cold

Building a winter shelter is both a needed survival skill and a great way to enjoy the outdoors this season.

In this family- and adult-oriented class, you will learn the basics of making three kinds of winter shelters:

The Quinzee

Tarp Craft

Thermal Mass Shelter

We will also concentrate on how to stay warm in the winter without shelter and techniques to prevent hypothermia, frostbite and other cold related injuries.Come away from this class with practical tools for staying safe and enjoying all of what winter has to offer!

Be Prepared…Not Scared

The weather in New England can be robust. We’ve seen drought, tornadoes and microbursts, hurricanes, freak snowstorms in October and severe thunderstorms after winters of an abundance of snow. Maybe the ice storms of Winter 2008 or Halloween Snowstorm 2011 brought an “emergency” to your door step? These storms are powerful teachers. We are reminded that we need each other and need to have certain awareness and skills.

Come to our hands-on workshop–an introduction to survival skills…and living in harmony with the Earth. Shelter, water, fire and food will be covered.

This Program is an introduction to survival fires, shelter building and discovering wild edibles.

Learn skills that have been passed down for generations: starting fires without a match, building shelters that could save your life in an emergency situation, identifying and gathering wild edibles, and recognizing medicinal plants. Learn the skills to have peace of mind in the woods as well as be prepared for comfort in the outdoors without a tent.

Classes take place on the 90 acres on and around Zoar Outdoor in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains and Deerfield River Valley. No prior experience is required.

All full-day Programs will provide a delicious picnic-style lunch with salads, homemade breads for deli-style sandwiches, cookies and, perhaps, foraged edibles prepared over an open fire. A sheath with knife will also be provided for you.

Classes will be held rain or shine; please be prepared to be outdoors in the event of rain.

October 15, October 22, October 29
November 5, November 12, November 19

This Program is an introduction to survival fires, shelter building and discovering wild edibles.

Learn skills that have been passed down for generations: starting fires without a match, building shelters that could save your life in an emergency situation, identifying and gathering wild edibles, and recognizing medicinal plants. Learn the skills to have peace of mind in the woods as well as be prepared for comfort in the outdoors without a tent.

Classes take place on the 90 acres on and around Zoar Outdoor in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains and Deerfield River Valley. No prior experience is required.

All full-day Programs will provide a delicious picnic-style lunch with salads, homemade breads for deli-style sandwiches, cookies and, perhaps, foraged edibles prepared over an open fire. A sheath with knife will also be provided for you.

Classes will be held rain or shine; please be prepared to be outdoors in the event of rain.

October 15, October 22, October 29
November 5, November 12, November 19

This Program is an introduction to survival fires, shelter building and discovering wild edibles.

Learn skills that have been passed down for generations: starting fires without a match, building shelters that could save your life in an emergency situation, identifying and gathering wild edibles, and recognizing medicinal plants. Learn the skills to have peace of mind in the woods as well as be prepared for comfort in the outdoors without a tent.

Classes take place on the 90 acres on and around Zoar Outdoor in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains and Deerfield River Valley. No prior experience is required.

All full-day Programs will provide a delicious picnic-style lunch with salads, homemade breads for deli-style sandwiches, cookies and, perhaps, foraged edibles prepared over an open fire. A sheath with knife will also be provided for you.

Classes will be held rain or shine; please be prepared to be outdoors in the event of rain.

October 15, October 22, October 29
November 5, November 12, November 19

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Earthwork Programs

Wilderness Living Skills & Nature Awareness

Our classes and workshops are experiential and teach true sustainability… how to live with nature in a way that benefits us and our environment. This creates a natural balance in our lives. Learn more about us →

At Earthwork Programs, our goal is to provide a safe, fun, learning environment where participants develop a deep understanding of the natural world and relationship to community, family and self through: